Peterson: Campbell the worst hire of the 2012 head coaching class? Get a life!

Here is how the Cyclones fared in their bowl games dating back to 2000.
Tyler Davis/The Register

Toledo Rockets head coach Matt Campbell, center, speaks with his players during a time out in the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on Sept. 1, 2012.(Photo: Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports)

Did you expect Joel Lanning to win the Hornung Award? Not me. Would Saquon Barkley have won it if he played for Iowa State — and not Penn State?

Absolutely not.

This program Matt Campbell leads is still fighting years and years of national negativity; however, that may be changing.

Lanning received All-American recognition for what he did in leading the Cyclones to a 7-5 record and berth opposite Memphis in the Dec. 30 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee — and that’s a start.

Iowa State quarterback Joel Lanning (7) celebrates their win over Baylor as well as his 23rd birthday after an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Waco, Texas. Iowa State won 23-13.(Photo: Rod Aydelotte/AP)

CAMPBELL: The Worst Hire

At 32, Campbell was the youngest Division I coach when promoted to his first head coaching position. That’s the main reason his wasn’t as sexy as others in that 2012 coaching class — like Urban Meyer to Ohio State, Bob Davie to New Mexico and Mike Leach to Washington State.

A rankings reshuffling five or so years later would rate Kansas’ 2012 hire of Charlie Weis and Illinois’ hire of Tim Beckman, who Campbell replaced at Toledo, as Nos. 1 and 2 — by a long ways.

Campbell the worst hire of the 2012 coaching class?

Nice try.

Translated: Not then, and certainly not when revisiting it five years later.

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Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Connecticut, Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in East Hartford, Connecticut.(Photo: The Associated Press)

RECRUITING: The Memphis quarterback

All recruiting websites list Iowa State among the schools that expressed interest in the Tigers’ Riley Ferguson.

Rivals even lists Iowa State as one of schools that offered a scholarship after he transferred from Coffeyville Community College in 2016. His other offers, according to Rivals, were Temple, Arkansas State and Memphis.

The senior completed 278 of 441 passes for 3,971 yards and 36 touchdowns against just nine interceptions this season. His 330.9-yard average each game is fifth nationally.

But remember this:

He’s not even half of the Heisman Trophy-winning Oklahoma quarterback — Baker Mayfield — that Iowa State beat on the road in October.

Mayfield rushed for 310 yards this season, while Ferguson rushed for just 43.

Translated: A one-dimensional quarterback, Ferguson probably won’t need someone like Lanning “spying” him on every play.

Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Allen Lazard (5) has his pass broken up by TCU’s Nick Orr (18) and Rnathony Texada (11) during the first half of their game at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Oct. 26, 2017. Rodney White/The Register

Iowa State coaches watch as Hakeem Butler scores a 74-yard touchdown during the Cyclones' game against Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Kyle Kempt (17) passes the ball during the first half of their football game against Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Ames. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State Cyclones Allen Lazard (5), right, and Kamari Cotton-Moya (5), left, talk on the field following their 49-42 loss to Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Ames. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Marchie Murdock (16) and Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback A.J. Green battle for possession of a pass intended for Murdock in the final minute of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Ames. The pass was ruled an interception and Oklahoma State would go on to win 49-42. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State Cyclones running back David Montgomery (32) dives in for a touchdown to put the Cyclones back up 41-34 during the second half of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Ames. Oklahoma State would go on to win 49-42. Brian Powers/The Register

Pass interference is called on Oklahoma State Cowboys safety Ramon Richards (7) as he defends Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Deshaunte Jones (8) during the second half of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Ames. Oklahoma State would go on to win 49-42. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Allen Lazard (5) stretches for a pass during the second half of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Ames. Oklahoma State would go on to win 49-42. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa senior running back Akrum Wadley (25) reaches over the end zone to tie the game after an extra point 38-380 during the second half of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Ames. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Allen Lazard (5) catches a pass during the first half of their football game against Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Ames. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Allen Lazard (5) celebrates a touchdown putting the Cyclones up 6-0 during the first half of their football game against Oklahoma State at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Ames. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State Cyclones running back David Montgomery (32) runs around Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive end Jarrell Owens (93) during the first half of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Ames. Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State receiver Hakeem Butler, right, celebrates a touchdown by soaring over the end zone like an airplane with teammate Marchie Murdock, left, against TCU on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Iowa State football players are met on the field by a hoard of student fans after the Cyclones knocked off No. 4-ranked TCU, 14-7, on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Iowa State sophomore running back Sheldon Croney, Jr., runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Iowa State senior receiver Allen Lazard carries the United States flag as the Cyclones take the field prior to kickoff against Texas on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Iowa State redshirt junior quarterback Jacob Park (10) is sacked by Iowa sophomore defensive end Anthony Nelson (98) during the first half of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Ames. Brian Powers/The Register

By comparison, Iowa State had 12 interceptions, and three that became touchdowns.

Translated: Look for a plethora of jump-ball passes — especially the ones that Lazard catches so well. The Cyclones specialize in that pass. It’s not like they’ll abandon it just because they’re facing one of the nation’s best intercepting teams.

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HIGH-SCORING FOE: So what’s new?

One of the nice aspects bowl games is playing against someone different. For Iowa State, the only difference is the name of the opponent.

Memphis’ 47.7-point scoring average is second nationally, to American Athletic Conference rival Central Florida.

Third and fourth on the scoring list are Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, so in this respect, it’s a lot like facing an opponent the Cyclones already have played.

CLOSE

Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell says he's fired up and excited for the Cyclones to play in the Liberty Bowl.
Kelsey Kremer/The Register

The Tigers’ 339.1-yard passing average is eighth nationally. First and third are Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, respectively. Nos. 11 and 12, by the way, are Texas Tech and West Virginia.

Translated: Playing Notre Dame in the Camping World Bowl in Orlando, as many bowl forecasts predicted, would have been a more intriguing Cyclones opponent.

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ABC TELEVISION: The talkers

I’ve heard that Iowa State fans have a problem with Tommy Tuberville.

Translated: You know who’s up in the booth and analyzing the Liberty Bowl, right? Yep.

Tommy Tuberville is a member of the broadcast crew for the Liberty Bowl.(Photo: Al Behrman, AP)

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AND FINALLY: The flu bug

Freshman quarterback Sam Richardson wasn’t healthy enough to finish Iowa State’s last Liberty Bowl game. He had the flu throughout Tulsa’s 31-17 victory — a game in which the Golden Hurricane scored the final 24 points.

It became so bad during the fourth quarter, that Steele Jantz replaced him.

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Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jeremy Reeves (5) celebrates his pass interception and touchdown with Iowa State Cyclones head coach Paul Rhoads in the first half of play against Tulsa at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker DeAundre Brown (2) wraps up Iowa State Cyclones tight end Ernst Brun Jr. (84) as he rushes for yards in the first half of play at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

Iowa State Cyclones kicker Edwin Arceo (41) celebrates with teammate Iowa State Cyclones offensive linesman Bob Graham (78) after kicking a field goal in the first half of play against Tulsa at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jeremy Reeves (5) intercepts a pass meant for Tulsa Golden Hurricane wide receiver Keyarris Garrett (1) and runs it back for a touchdown in the first half of play at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jeremy Reeves (5) intercepts a pass meant for Tulsa Golden Hurricane wide receiver Keyarris Garrett (1) and runs it back for a touchdown in the first half of play at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Deon Broomfield (26),. Iowa State Cyclones linebacker A.J. Klein (47), and Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Matt Morton (39) wraps up Tulsa Golden Hurricane running back Trey Watts (22) as he rushed four yards in the first half of play at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Matt Morton (39) celebrates after making a tackle on Tulsa Golden Hurricane running back Trey Watts (22) in the first half of play at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

Tulsa Golden Hurricane defensive back Lowell Rose (7) tackles Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Sam B. Richardson (12) as he scrambles for yards in the first half of play at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

Iowa State Cyclones linebacker A.J. Klein (47) tackles Tulsa Golden Hurricane running back Trey Watts (22) as he rushed for yards in the second half of play at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Steele Jantz (2) looks dejected after fumbling the ball and turning it over to Tulsa late in the 4th quarter of play at the 2012 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Register file photo

"Sam looked dazed, because he was sick," then-coach Paul Rhoads said after the game. "Gritty performance by the young man who was throwing up all night and having other problems with his health.

"I commend Sam for going as long as he did. I didn't want to disrupt the rhythm of our football team and what he was providing for us, but there was a time when he just didn't have the strength to finish up."

Translated: Flu didn’t cost Iowa State the Liberty Bowl. Tulsa’s game included scoring drives of 75, 41 and 59 yards. That’s why the Cyclones lost — the defense couldn’t get off the field. And in case you’re wondering — Memphis scores quickly. It’s 69 non-overtime touchdowns came on drives that averaged 128 seconds. The Tigers had 19 touchdown drives that lasted less than minutes.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.